Kyle Rittenhouse was 17 years old when he shot three people during the unrest in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on August 25, 2020.

Quick Scoop: How old was Kyle Rittenhouse when he shot people?

On the night of August 25, 2020, during protests and unrest in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Kyle Rittenhouse was 17 years old. He traveled from his home in Antioch, Illinois, and used an AR‑15-style rifle, shooting three men, killing two and injuring one.

Key facts

  • Age at the time of the shooting: 17 years old.
  • Date of the incident: August 25, 2020.
  • Location: Kenosha, Wisconsin, during protests following the police shooting of Jacob Blake.
  • Outcome: Two men killed, one man wounded.
  • Later trial result (November 2021): Rittenhouse was found not guilty on all major charges after arguing self‑defense.

Mini context and why his age mattered

Because Rittenhouse was 17, his case immediately raised issues about a minor crossing state lines with a rifle and participating in armed “protection” of property during civil unrest. His age became central in public debate about gun laws, militias, and whether a teenager should have been in that situation at all.

Many commentators viewed him as an underage, improperly armed vigilante, while others framed him as a young person acting in self‑defense in a chaotic environment. This split helped turn the case into a major political and cultural flashpoint in the U.S.

Different viewpoints in public discussion

  • Those critical of Rittenhouse focus on:
    • His age (being 17), the weapon he carried, and the decision to enter a volatile protest zone.
* Concerns about vigilantism and the message it sends if an armed teenager is seen as a “protector.”
  • Those supportive of Rittenhouse emphasize:
    • Video and witness accounts they believe show him being chased, attacked, or threatened before he fired.
* The jury’s conclusion that his actions met the legal standard for self‑defense.

This divide still surfaces in forum discussions and social media any time his name trends or related cases appear in the news.

Simple fact table (age and basics)

[1][3][5] [3][5] [5][3] [1][3][5] [7][9][5]
Question Answer
How old was Kyle Rittenhouse when he shot people? 17 years old.
When did the shooting happen? August 25, 2020.
Where did it happen? Kenosha, Wisconsin, during protests over the police shooting of Jacob Blake.
How many people were shot? Three shot, two killed, one wounded.
What was the trial outcome? Found not guilty on all major charges in November 2021 after a self‑defense claim.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.